Additional investment by Leopardstown Racecourse significantly raises prize money for the 2025 Flat season
Thursday, April 03, 2025
Leopardstown Racecourse have today announced significant increases in prizemoney for the 2025 Flat season
Leopardstown Racecourse have today announced significant increases in prize money for its Group 3 and Listed races, handicaps and two-year-old maidens for the 2025 Flat season.
Each of the 16 Group 3 races at Leopardstown will see their value rise to a minimum of €60,000 while overall prize money for the course’s eight Listed races increases to €45,000.
A guaranteed minimum value has been confirmed for each of the five new handicap bands with all two-year-old maiden races rising to ensure a minimum prize fund of €20,000 per race.
Paul Dermody, CEO HRI Racecourses, said: “We are delighted to be making these significant improvements at Leopardstown to its prize money for the 2025 Flat season.
“This season, Leopardstown will be increasing their contribution to prize money by in excess of €271,000 compared to 2024 levels. The total prize money for the Flat programme at Leopardstown in 2025 is expected to exceed €5.5m before their season ends in mid-October.”
“The increases announced today cover four areas of the racing programme at Leopardstown and will give owners and trainers across the board the opportunity to share in the new levels of prize money.
“In addition to the increases in the Group 3 and Listed race categories, the minimum values of 0-60 handicaps at Leopardstown will be €12,000, the 0-70s will be €15,000, the 0-80 races will be €20,000, the 0-90 are €25,000, while the 0-100 rated handicaps will come in at €30,000. In conjunction with the Irish EBF, all two-year-old maidens at Leopardstown will now have a minimum value of €20,000.
“We started our Flat season last weekend where we saw some top-quality horses turn out, in particular the Aidan O'Brien’s Derby hope Delacroix in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes alongside his Breeders’ Cup hero Henri Matisse which claimed victory in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud ‘Red Rocks’ Stakes. The 1,000 Guineas trial, the Ballylinch Stud ‘Priory Belle’ Stakes, was won in impressive style by Swelter, which looks to be a strong contender for Dermot Weld who has won the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas twice in the last three years.
“We are very grateful to our sponsors who supported our trials’ day and look forward to a number of upcoming announcements in relation to our partners for the 2025 Flat season.”
Each of the 16 Group 3 races at Leopardstown will see their value rise to a minimum of €60,000 while overall prize money for the course’s eight Listed races increases to €45,000.
A guaranteed minimum value has been confirmed for each of the five new handicap bands with all two-year-old maiden races rising to ensure a minimum prize fund of €20,000 per race.
Paul Dermody, CEO HRI Racecourses, said: “We are delighted to be making these significant improvements at Leopardstown to its prize money for the 2025 Flat season.
“This season, Leopardstown will be increasing their contribution to prize money by in excess of €271,000 compared to 2024 levels. The total prize money for the Flat programme at Leopardstown in 2025 is expected to exceed €5.5m before their season ends in mid-October.”
“The increases announced today cover four areas of the racing programme at Leopardstown and will give owners and trainers across the board the opportunity to share in the new levels of prize money.
“In addition to the increases in the Group 3 and Listed race categories, the minimum values of 0-60 handicaps at Leopardstown will be €12,000, the 0-70s will be €15,000, the 0-80 races will be €20,000, the 0-90 are €25,000, while the 0-100 rated handicaps will come in at €30,000. In conjunction with the Irish EBF, all two-year-old maidens at Leopardstown will now have a minimum value of €20,000.
“We started our Flat season last weekend where we saw some top-quality horses turn out, in particular the Aidan O'Brien’s Derby hope Delacroix in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes alongside his Breeders’ Cup hero Henri Matisse which claimed victory in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud ‘Red Rocks’ Stakes. The 1,000 Guineas trial, the Ballylinch Stud ‘Priory Belle’ Stakes, was won in impressive style by Swelter, which looks to be a strong contender for Dermot Weld who has won the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas twice in the last three years.
“We are very grateful to our sponsors who supported our trials’ day and look forward to a number of upcoming announcements in relation to our partners for the 2025 Flat season.”
This season, Leopardstown will be increasing their contribution to prize money by in excess of €271,000 compared to 2024 levels. The total prize money for the Flat programme at Leopardstown in 2025 is expected to exceed €5.5m before their season ends in mid-October
